Lauren Boasso’s Profile

As humans, we create representations of nature in a wide range of media and for many different purposes. Examples in the creative arts include travel writing, landscape painting, field recordings of birds, and wildlife documentaries. Representations of nature for the purposes of scientific understanding include the naming of plant and animal species and illustrations of biological processes. Scientific theories have emerged alongside photographs captured with powerful microscopes and telescopes. Through the analysis of works combining visual, written, and sonic elements, this course will explore the limits of human perception and expression in representing the natural world.

As humans, we create representations of nature in a wide range of media and for many different purposes. Examples in the creative arts include travel writing, landscape painting, field recordings of birds, and wildlife documentaries. Representations of nature for the purposes of scientific understanding include the naming of plant and animal species and illustrations of biological processes. Scientific theories have emerged alongside photographs captured with powerful microscopes and telescopes. Through the analysis of works combining visual, written, and sonic elements, this course will explore the limits of human perception and expression in representing the natural world.

In this course, students will examine how representations of “the criminal” in literature and visual culture are constructed and circulated for a variety of purposes. We will look closely at the ways institutions (prisons, schools, hospitals), as well as disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities), shape definitions of “normalcy” and “deviancy.” The course will begin with the invention of the modern-day prison in the 19th century and conclude with representations of criminality in the digital age.

In this course, students will examine how representations of “the criminal” in literature and visual culture are constructed and circulated for a variety of purposes. We will look closely at the ways institutions (prisons, schools, hospitals), as well as disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities), shape definitions of “normalcy” and “deviancy.” The course will begin with the invention of the modern-day prison in the 19th century and conclude with representations of criminality in the digital age.

The digital humanities lab is a 1-credit course designed to help students discover digital tools and techniques that they can apply to any discipline they are exploring at the university. Students in the humanities have devised projects for SURF, forensic science students have used interactive mapping and timeline tools to present their research, and marine biology students have created podcasts to educate the general public. Guided by an interdisciplinary team of faculty, students in the lab learn about the projects faculty have mentored in the past and gather via zoom for weekly workshops to experiment and brainstorm possibilities.

The digital humanities lab is a 1-credit course designed to help students discover digital tools and techniques that they can apply to any discipline they are exploring at the university. Students in the humanities have devised projects for SURF, forensic science students have used interactive mapping and timeline tools to present their research, and marine biology students have created podcasts to educate the general public. Guided by an interdisciplinary team of faculty, students in the lab learn about the projects faculty have mentored in the past and gather via zoom for weekly workshops to experiment and brainstorm possibilities.